Trevor Ariza had an excused absence from practice Thursday, after he played with a 102-degree temperature in a 17-point win vs. the Miami Heat. Glen Rice, who has been out since having surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his right shooting wrist last month, is close to returning.

Coach Randy Wittman said Rice, who has been cleared to shoot and can be seen working out with teammates after practices, should be participating in full-contact drills soon. The Wizards (18-19) have games Friday vs. the Chicago Bulls and Saturday vs. the Detroit Pistons. They'll be off Sunday before another home game Monday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

Then Rice has a shot at practicing. He had an outpatient surgery Dec. 18 in New York after he aggravated an existing injury during a postgame celebration at Madison Square Garden. He was projected to be out 3-6 weeks at the time, so he's on schedule.

Al Harrington (right knee) still is working out but has yet to practice. He was taking three-point shots well outside the arc Thursday. The Wizards anticipate that he could be back around the All-Star break, which for them is Feb. 13-16. Harrington had loose particles removed in early December.